Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-05-13
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, d. c.,
NJ n 1907

residing in Washington were made
glad last Thursday evening when the
announcement was made that Judge
Charles j. Faulkner had been elected
United States Senator for the next six
years to succeed Mr.. Camden. While
the feeling was general that the Demo-
cratic party of West Virginia owed the
Senatorship to Mr., Camden, still the re-
suit was so much better than what was
anticipated (no election) that everybody
seemed joyful. Judge Faulkner is a
worthy companion of Senator kenna,
and West Virginia will now have the
honor Of being represented by the two
youngest aud certainly the brainiest
pair of Senators from any State. Or
course contest is expected, but the
unanimous opinion here is that Mr..
Faulkner will be occupying the seat
which he can so ably fill before the holt
day recess.
Mr.. Tom Hughes, printer, scout,
frontersman, and Indiar fighter, died
in this city last week from paralysis of
the lower limbs, from which he has been
sufferer for some years past. Mr..
Hughes was born in West Virginia, but
went West when quite boy, and was
as full of "reminiscences of life on the
frontier as a cocoanut is of milk. He
was for years the companion OF such men
as joaquin Miller, Wild Bill, Buffalo
Bill. Texas Jack, and others as well
known. Among the members OF every
Indian delegation which came to WASH
ington there was sure to be some old
chuck" who knew Tom, and as he knew
several Indian dialects he was always
at home among them.
For years past the entrance TO the
Capitol facing Pennsylvania avenue
has been an eye-sore to residents anu
visitors. Workmen are now busily
engaged in building the grand marble
staircase and terrace, and by fall it will
be completed, making it one of the most
beautiful objects in Washington. In
fact, the whole western face Of the Cap
itol will be SO changed that it will be a
new building. There will be nothing
superior to that in the world. The
north terrace of Maryland white marble
and the south terrace of Massachusetts
marble, each 304 feet long and 20 feet
high, capped with marble balustrade
and rail, with superb bronze lampposts
and pedestals, will meet the western
terrace 9lS feet in length, broken in the
centre by the grand staircase projecting
ll2 feet, consisting of four double flights
of white marble steps IS feet wide with
four landings. The entire exterior OF
the original Capitol, which is now the
centre. is of grey free-stone painted TO
conceal defects. 1t is to be entirely re-
faced with white marble so as 10 CORE
spond with the Senate and House wings.
Then will be removed feature that has
ALWAYS married the beauty of the Capitol.
When all is done, to stsnl upon the
upper platform of the terrace and view
the result of the work now in progress
will be worth as long travel to view as
any other work of the hand of man in
existence.
Kapiolani, Queen of the Hawai- ian
Islands. who is now on tour of the
world, arrived in this city last week,
and has been receiving the tomary
attention accorded TO royalty by the
President and Cabinet.
On Friday evening the President en-
tertained the queen at dinner at the
White House. She is very black, with
tight woolly hair, and is said to be finely
educated. The queen left here on Sat
urday for Boston, accompanied by a
committee of aldermen who had come
here to invite her to visit that city.
At u meeting of the board having in
charge the Washington monument on
Saturday an order was passed closing
the monument to visitors until such
time as Congress shall pass law pro-
viding tor the protection of the same.
This order became necessary by reason
of the vandalism of visitors, who were
breaking off bits of the fine stone-work
on the inside and otherwise mutilating
the monument, and as there were only
two watchmen for the monument i. was
impossible to stop these depredations.
Mr.. Earnest l.. Etchison, formerly of
Shepherdstown, was married in this
city last week to Miss Fannie Burr.
The presents received were numerous
and costly. Earnest has charge of the
lace department of Woodward ~
Lothrop's mammoth establishment in
this city, does all their buying in lace
goods, and am Informed is one of the
best judges of lace in the country.
When he first went with this house his
salary was quite small, but by industry
and good judgment he has secured for
himself a fine position with large sal
airy attached. Luther Etchison, his
brother, has a position in the same
house.
The first keel plate for the United
States man. of-war Baltimore was laid
in Philadelphia at Cramps ship yard
last Saturday, another one is being
built in Baltimore, two more at Chester,
Pa, and plans for two others are now
being prepared by the Navy Depart
ment. These vessels are all to be Of the
very best pattern of ironclads, carrying
the heaviest guns, and inside Of two
years, if Congress is liberal in appropri-
ations, we will have one of the best
navies in the world. The cost of these
vessels will average million and a
half dollars apiece. ). w. j.